BONES: Stephen Nathan Talks the Sniper Arc and Season Finale

When BONES returns from its hiatus tonight, the infamous sniper Broadsky is back and has our team’s attention after he kills again.

So what trouble is Booth’s former associate up to? I talked with BONES executive producer Stephen Nathan about the sniper potentially taking out one of our own, if we’ll see Broadsky again this season and the status of the sixth season finale…

Earlier in the season there was talk that someone we know would be taken out by the sniper. Were you referring to Heather Taffet or is someone else in danger? Stephen Nathan: All I can say is that working in the profession they work in — all of our people — they live with the threat of danger all the time. We have to address that issue at some point and we will this year. We will before the year is out.

Will there be a third sniper episode before the season ends? SN: The third sniper episode will be the penultimate episode. It will be May 12th, just before the season finale.

Do you plan on taking the arc into next season or will that be the final episode? SN: Well, we’re still a little bit up in the air with that. But it seems — like Taffet in this case — we might wrap this one up. But how it wraps up — and I hate to be so vague — we could wrap it up by leaving it open. [Laughs]

Very interesting. Poor Taffet had her head blown off. SN: Yeah, I don’t think she’s coming back. I think she can come back on AMC — she can be on THE WALKING DEAD.

I know Deirdre Lovejoy (Taffet) has tweeted that she wanted to come back and haunt Brennan’s dreams. Is that even a possibility? SN: I don’t know how much more dream stuff we’re going to be doing. So it’s not really a possibility at this point. It’s not anything we’re thinking about.

So speaking of the end of the season, have you actually written the season finale yet? SN: No. No, [BONES creator] Hart [Hanson] and I are working that out now. And with all the chaos at the end of the season, just wrapping up the season and all the different stories and everything we’ve set up, plus THE FINDER episode, it’s taking a little bit longer because we want it to be as good as the other season finales. Or as controversial. Or as annoying. Depending on who watched it. [Laughs]

That’s actually what I was going to ask — are you planning on making it another controversial finale? SN: Well, I hope so. What’s the point of having the season finale if it’s not a little bit controversial? [Laughs]

You could make the fans happy… SN: It could be happy and controversial! That’s what we’re going for: happy and controversial.

I know fans have been debating about whether Booth and Brennan should get together by the end of the season. Have you guys made up your mind about whether it will happen? SN: We are trying to follow their relationship as honestly as we possibly can. So we haven’t worked out the last episode yet in great detail, so everything is up in the air. In reality, everything is up in the air. Hart and I have not nailed anything down yet.

Are you leaning more towards one way or the other? SN: No. It’s really up in the air. We’re discussing every conceivable permutation of their relationship at this point.

Comments

41 Responses to “BONES: Stephen Nathan Talks the Sniper Arc and Season Finale”

Drippan on
March 10th, 2011 1:29 pm

Wow! First to post.

Again, SN/HH undecided if B&B will get together or not is just more proof how poorly planned the series has been the last couple seasons. They are holding on to their number 1 rule to keep B&B seperated as long as possible.

It’s no longer creative story telling as they just make up more crap and destroying the characters while doing so.

lysa on
March 10th, 2011 1:30 pm

woaah….. no bad comments yet?? what a surprise….

Stephen Nathan, I adore the way you tease us!!! aahhhh I think we will have an AWESOME season final!!!!!! can’t wait to be in May even it that means no more Bones for too much months!

lysa on
March 10th, 2011 1:32 pm

@drippan : why do you still watch it then? why do you till post negative comments? have you nothing else to do that bashing and regret the past???

Mam on
March 10th, 2011 1:41 pm

Whole lot of nothing. Nothing even to tease.
I watch for the Jeffersonian and am really tired of BB. Piss or get off the pot. There’s no “honest” storytelling there but a lot of contrivances.

EL on
March 10th, 2011 1:51 pm

Thank-you, Marisa, for suggesting he could make the fans happy. A completely foreign notion to him, I believe.

Gina on
March 10th, 2011 1:51 pm

more contrived BS…. ugh so tired of it all…

Ina on
March 10th, 2011 1:53 pm

I’m looking forward to the season finale so much. But I’m not naive. They won’t bring B&B together. BUT that doesn’t mean the finale (and all the other upcoming episodes) are going to be bad and I’m really excited to see what they’re gonna do.

Gina on
March 10th, 2011 1:54 pm

Someone should ask SN what the heck he means by Honest storytelling… Does he even know the meaning… there has been nothing honest this year…

Jillian on
March 10th, 2011 2:04 pm

Maybe…and this is BIG maybe…they can’t agree on what to do with B&B this season?

duh...winning! on
March 10th, 2011 2:12 pm

The finale’s up in the air, everything is taking longer to do because nothing has been decided in great detail… No wonder this season has come across as so confused and weird. There may be a final destination, but there’s no real route.

To me, it seemed that the episodes this season were conceived as individual pieces with nothing more than a half-hearted glance at the big picture. That sucks. Yes, I want Brennan and Booth to get together, but to me (I speak only for myself), HH and SN think that I’ll be satisfied so long as that’s the endgame. Sorry. Although I am a fan who is currently expressing a view online, I’m not dimwitted. And I’m not satisfied just because there’s an endgame that I’d like to see. The journey has to be worth it too. In fact, I’d argue the journey is more important then where things end up. HH has “assured” the fans that Booth and Brennan end up together. Not all that comforting if this is how we get there.

I’ll stick the rest of the season out because I’m curious and it’s hard to look away from this for whatever reason. (If you think ratings is the true indicator of what makes a show “successful,” think again. I’d argue that online commentary and viewer feedback is just as important a litmus test for satisfaction as are ratings.)

As for whether I’ll be back next season… hard to tell. I’ll wait until after the season finale to make that decision, but right now my instincts are telling me to pack up my dimwitted opinions and take them somewhere else after this year.

@chibi_tati on
March 10th, 2011 2:22 pm

They know what to do!
The thing is they can not say it to us because it would kill the magic!
“Ey everyone B&B will be togheter at the season finale” mmm I don’t think so, is best if we follow the arc, it’s not fun if you know what is going to happen!
HH/SN just tease us, they makes us want to know but for that to happen we have to watch the show.
I have faith they gonna make everything right! they’re really good writers we should just be more patients

Tiffany on
March 10th, 2011 2:42 pm

Everything is up in the air, because they don’t have a contract for season 7. There is a chance (slim though it may be) that this could be the last season. IMO that’s why they have no idea where to go from here.

Harper on
March 10th, 2011 4:08 pm

“follow their relationship as honestly as possible”…is he kidding? He’s gotta be kidding right?! They are waaaaaaay past that point. Following the relationship honestly they would have stopped with the contrived plot devices and gotten them together after last season.

HH/SN have abeen winging it all season long. They felt so sure Hannah would shake things up in a good way, they kept her on to long. Now they are trying to correct their mistake and are not doing a very good job. I think they have forgotten the rich characters they created. This season they are a thin shell of who they were in past seasons. I hope they get their heads together and start writing the great scripts that made Bones such a great show, it has always been my favorite program. This season has been a disappointment. I do want Booth & Brennan together. Their relationship has been written in ways that the obivious conclusion is they would get together, I don’t get why they are stringing it out so long it’s geting tiresome. Hopefully they’ll stop the teasing & get on with it.

Jodi on
March 10th, 2011 5:23 pm

I think the sniper should shoot Brennan….not for her to die but to be a catalyst for her and Booth to realize tomorrow is never a given. Booth could in turn deal with his desire for revenge conflicting with his underlying moral fiber.

Kat on
March 10th, 2011 5:25 pm

Tiffany’s right, and reading the dialog here has me a little nervous that the contract negotiations aren’t going very well. Whether Booth and Bones get together is going to entirely rest on whether Fox gives them a 7th season. I’d rather have another season (or two) over Bones and Booth getting together in this season. Things have progressed too fast this season enough as it is, every episode where there’s some B&B stuff going on has felt rushed and it feels like the chemistry between them died off. If they got together now in this season and got extended to another season, it would only be to please the shippers (and I do love them together, but I know I wouldn’t be happy).

Elora on
March 10th, 2011 5:52 pm

I love Bones. It is a very intriguing show. I think that the writers will do a great job writing the season finale!! 😀 😀 I cannot wait!! Come on people give them the credit of having such a great show!

MissH on
March 10th, 2011 5:53 pm

There have been some good episodes this season, but some have left me feeling so scattered. I feel like they’re forcing B&B together and apart at the same time and it’s compromising the substance their characters once had. It’s important for characters to evolve and grow over time, but that’s not what this is. I’d rather see even three or four more seasons of B&B simply as partners than watch the characters I’ve grown to love digress.

Julie on
March 10th, 2011 5:57 pm

I agree with Tiffany also, I would rather have more Bones episodes and keep B&B getting closer without Hannah in the picture, than have no more Bones at all. I like all the episodes. I don’t understand what everyone is complaining about. Sure we want B&B to be together and admit their feelings out loud, but it is also good to just be able to see their feelings for each other without them saying it out loud. It’s in their faces every episode which makes it great. I also want to see Angela and Hodgens have their baby, for Sweets and Daisy to get married, and Cam to be happy with her new beau. It all ties together to make one fantastic show that I wait for anxiously each week.

ZeroEmpire on
March 10th, 2011 5:58 pm

“Who are you hoping the sniper takes out?”

The Writers/Producers of this show….
Why?
Someone already write it but… “It’s no longer creative story telling as they just make up more crap and destroying the characters while doing so.”

Ina on
March 10th, 2011 5:58 pm

@ Jodi: I also thought about that possibility. IMO that’s one of the best options, because of all the reasons you already stated and because it would be a very dramatic episode (and I love those 😀 )

Joy on
March 10th, 2011 6:14 pm

Maybe they’ll just wipe the entire season out and make it Brennan’s nightmare? How about it, just scratch this whole season and start over in the fall. THAT, would be EXCELLENT news! It would definitely give fans a reason to tune in next fall. Right now, there really isn’t one. The writing this year has seemed very disjointed, completely disconnected to anything prior to the 100th, and overtly juvenile. If they scrap this year, hopefully in season seven they’ll remember that the characters are supposed to be in their 30’s and early 40’s – not teens in high school – and we’d get to see a believable storyline.

I really do not understand people who watch the show and then complain about every little thing that they are not happy with. Come on Peeps….if you do not like the show, QUIT WATCHING IT! The writers will write what they want in order to keep us glued to the show, that is the cold hard facts of “television shows”.
For those of you out there that do not have a life and live vicariously through television shows, all that I can say is, GET A LIFE! It is just a show! As they say, what happens will happen. It is the writers, not their fans, who are in control.
As for myself, I really like the show! I would hope that eventually B&B will end up together but that is not what this show is about or why it was started. I will continue to watch the show cause either way it does not matter to me. There is no other person that I have come across as Dr. Brennan, female wise anyway. I love her character!!!!!

Atta Girl on
March 10th, 2011 8:01 pm

Bones is certainly a show based on characters. I mean, come on, why does every case have to be solved by Hodgins suddenly finding a rare and isolated plant species? But if you’ve grown to care about the characters, as I know I have, you move past the timeline, you move past the (admittedly, sometimes weak) storytelling, and you just watch the bloody show. I for one am excited to see how the sniper arc will turn out, and I totally support trying to keep B&B “honest”. Hopefully the writers will take their time with the upcoming episodes, and give David and Emily lots of time build back up the chemistry for the ungrateful viewers.

Phillip on
March 10th, 2011 9:25 pm

This season has had too much angst and too many down points. The characters are still awkward, but there is a few points in where the old spirit of them appear. But if HH and SN want to make the characters believable then get them together. Not because of the shippers everywhere, but because that’s the natural progress. Everything has been said and done, there is nothing else standing in their way except cheech and chong over there. Only conclusion left is that they’re scared, but scared of what I have no clue. Us fans wants B&B together, why not give into that already. Its been six years..

frustrated viewer on
March 10th, 2011 9:54 pm

I have to say that I am tired of people who say I am an ungrateful viewer or there is something wrong with me if I express any discontent with the show or storyline. I find it hypocritical at best to see anyone post negative comments towards another poster expressing their views simply because it 1) does not fit in with their opinions or 2) it is a critism in any way. Mostly I find it rude and silly. How I feel about the show and how I express those views are just as valid as yours. If YOU don’t like the negative post then stop reading the comment sections. Why do I have less right to express my discontent simply because you say so. I agree that there are posters who cross the line with their comments and make them in a mean and hurtful way, and there should be no place for that. But I also think there are posters who follow blindly and obsessively spout flowery prose towards the show and the front runners, and rip into anyone who might not enjoy their words. They are just as wrong. If I as a consumer of this product want to object and, with fore thought and evidence to back it up, want to state an opinion based on my viewing habits then I am not dimwitted or hurting anyone personally. Having fans who blindly follow and accept anything TPTB gives them, while it might be good for their egos, it is not good for their art or show. That type of thing is how power hungry dictatorships are formed. Having those who have expectations and who call you on your follies, constantly pushing you to put out your best work and demanding from you so that you stay on your toes is what you should want as a creative person. I am tired of being told if I am so upset about the storyline then stop watching. You should be grateful that I am still watching and that I am passionate about the show – we fans (the passionate ones) are the reason Bones is in season six. We are the ones who followed it from time slot to time slot, we are the ones who started the online forums, we are the ones who roped our friends into watching and then got them hooked increasing the fan base and ratings weekly. When I critize where the show is now and where it has been going, I do it because one, I truly love this show and I am expressing my honest frustration and two, because I hope that it can and will change. I do not call HH names or belittle him as a person, I don’t know him as a person. But I do have a right to critize him as the showrunner and writer, and to disagree with his choices – especially since he has put himself out there by doing interviews, challenging his fanbase, teasing, etc.. Does that mean I am right and he is wrong or anything will change? No, but I still have that right, especially in a civil and intellegent way. What I find interesting is that he has gone out of his way to personally critize and belittle me as a fan. I am far from dimwitted, an idiot, or a rabid fangirl – yet he is constantly snapping at fans as such. I also think it speaks volumes when you have to defend your position, especially with anger and meanness. Or when you have to explain what you meant or your storyline. Will all the fans be happy? No, there is no way. Will there always be critics of each episode or decision? Yes, there will. That is not the point. The point being made is when you become isolated from what is going on around you, stubborn in your own need to be right and show “them”, and you constantly bait and belittle those who truly are your biggest supporters then you get what you see here. A fanbase that is discontent, fighting and bickering, and a show that is losing because of it all.

Coleen on
March 10th, 2011 10:44 pm

I have every faith in the writers of BONES…this years episodes for me have been very entertaining. They continue to come up with interesting twists in story lines(not predictable)and make things fun (funny)! I realize EVERY one is concerned w/ the death of BONES if B&B get together…again I have faith in the writers of BONES. I believe they can turn a story of two individuals working together, into a team of two working together! B&B Belong together!

sara on
March 10th, 2011 10:49 pm

IN THE clips for next week the blizzard bones says that about making love/after the way booth did with hannah no way /lets hope this clip is no where close to true.

Linda on
March 10th, 2011 11:03 pm

TV shows survived almost 60 years before fans offered their infinite wisdom and inspired producers to create quality programs. I am glad fans don’t write the shows. They would be as predictable as reality shows.

osteon on
March 11th, 2011 2:37 am

@frustrated, “I do not call HH names or belittle him as a person, I don’t know him as a person. But I do have a right to critize him as the showrunner and writer, and to disagree with his choices – especially since he has put himself out there by doing interviews, challenging his fanbase, teasing, etc.. Does that mean I am right and he is wrong or anything will change? No, but I still have that right, especially in a civil and intellegent way. What I find interesting is that he has gone out of his way to personally critize and belittle me as a fan. I am far from dimwitted, an idiot, or a rabid fangirl – yet he is constantly snapping at fans as such.”

good that you are able to criticize the show and express your disappointments without having to personally attack him (as you claim in your quoted statement). If you have not belittled him as a person, then you do not have to feel that you were addressed by him as dimwitted. Why, if you claim that you did not do anything, do you feel that he personally criticized you as a fan? Did you send him hate mails? Did you wish for his dog to die? Did you call him stupid? Did you use the F-word against him? Did you wish that the show’s rating would tank? Did you question his integrity just because Emily will not direct this season? Do you call them liars just because they try to be vague and withhold information (they obviously do not want revealed until an episode is aired) during their interviews? Do you say that whatever they say in their interviews is crap?

good for you if you did not. but there are “fans” who have done those. just back track on all the Bones-related posts here and read the comments. try lurking in fansites (The Lab at delphi forums is a good example). try to read the tweets addressed to Hart Hanson. You will see or read worse. so if you asked me, the dimnasty/dimwitted comment is well-deserved.

Amber on
March 11th, 2011 2:49 am

@frustrated viewer- Nothing wrong with having a different view. In fact, I can appreciate another view. The problem I have comes when fans just throw crap without explaining themselves. Like someone who just makes a flippant comment. I read comments on sites because generally, I am interested in views on (in the case of a review) the episode that aren’t my own. But sometimes it just comes across as whiny complaining. That isn’t something I am interested in. I have felt ashamed of this fandom at times because of some of the behavior. It feels like others don’t actually take time to think before they type. They just react.

I think I am going to leave it at that right now.
Amber

Rosie on
March 11th, 2011 2:56 am

Can’t believe they still think that a controversial finale means a good one. Many fans are already hating the way this season (and last season) are going… having a finale that frustrates people could basically make them stop watching the show. 😛

Amber on
March 11th, 2011 2:59 am

@frustrated – Forgot to say something. He isn’t “belittling” you specifically. I didn’t take offense to the comment because I am not one of those fans that insists on throwing rude comments or what not at him. Hart Hanson sees so much of the rude/mean stuff from fans. He gets frustrated himself I am sure. The problem that emerges between HH and SN and the fans has to do with having different perspectives. Some people don’t take the time to explain why something didn’t work for them intelligently. Or they just don’t make an attempt at all. Anyway, I’ve sidetracked, back to HH, SN and some of the fans. It’s become a horrible cycle in which both sides play a part. Meaning both are responsible in this cycle. No one, not HH and SN or those some of fans get to claim victim. They need to suck it up and deal with it.

marple on
March 11th, 2011 11:34 am

Ditto to Joy. That would imo be a good ending of this crappy season. I used to love this show, one of those who followed from the start. This season everything i loved about it is all gone. The chemistry between all the characters is gone, and there´s not much fun between them either.
Agree also with someone earlier that said “it´s not all about the end, the ride needs to be enjoyable too”. Imo i have not enjoyed any of these episodes.
I have been disapointed about how the characters have felt like they now belong in a high school story. There hasn´t been about professional grown ups anymore.
If they would´ve wanted to follow their relationship honestly, they would never have come to this seasons wreck. Now i don´t feel that it´s realistic to beleive that it could be any closeness at all between B&B.

sue p on
March 11th, 2011 12:25 pm

They’ve pushed the relationship past the point of no return if they expect any of us to believe B and B can not be together and still work together. The whole series until episode 100 built up that expectation and just throwing random unrealistic obstacles at them at this point is unrealistic and will only serve to drive fans away as the first part of this season did. I came back once H was gone and I will exit again if HH and SN don’t think seriously about a bringing about reverse Moonlighting curse with their stupid attempts to stretch the inevitable out longer.

read my mind on
March 11th, 2011 5:30 pm

I would like to quote @duh…winning! (March 10th, 2011): “The finale’s up in the air, everything is taking longer to do because nothing has been decided in great detail… No wonder this season has come across as so confused and weird. There may be a final destination, but there’s no real route.”
This and everything else in the comment sums up my thoughts, so I have nothing else to add.

and to @frustrated viewer (March 10th, 2011):
I get that. Everything you said. You are right.
I find it less likable when people complain about other viewers complaining about a tv show, than viewers complaining about tv shows. Everyone should have the right to express their views. Whatever they may be. Black (bad), white (good), or gray (in between, both).

Holly on
March 11th, 2011 10:30 pm

They have to see how the story plays out before writing the finale, makes senseto me. Booth isn’t ready for another relationship so soon after Hannah. Season five finale was a total disaster, I hope S6 finale is 100 x better.

Amber on
March 12th, 2011 10:03 am

Yes, everyone does/should have a right to express their view but there is a fine line between doing that and throwing a tantrum (no explanation to the disagreement). Not to mention the cycle with some fans and HH,SN exclude fans who genuinely give their view and put some thought in it. I know that we aren’t always going to be able to do that because sometimes we just want say “I hate how this happened or how she did that etc”. We get to do that some times. It just feels like it happens more than it should. Realistically, HH will never be able to please all of fandom ever. Unfortunately, because of all this that seems to go on in Bones fandom I won’t even step foot (metaphorically of course) into the Castle fandom. I know different creators and what not but I won’t do it.

Alesandra on
March 18th, 2011 1:03 pm

What does Castle have to do with this discussion? Did someone mention it or something? I must have missed that.

JoAnn Klauer on
March 21st, 2011 1:06 am

All you disgruntled fans out there, GET A LIFE!!! You must be the people who read the ending of a book before starting it. I LOVE BONES and all the characters. The authentic realism and mesmerizing storylines are lost on you. The writers and directors do a superb job and the actors are all winners. They make you believe. Have any of you heard of unrequited love? No? Its when one person is madly in love and the other is uninterested. The writers have convinced us that Booth and Brennan have switched roles more than once while keeping a friendship. It’s what keeps us coming back for more. Other storylines have also kept our attention while giving us the grusome background from the jeffersonian. The mystery beguiles us. Give us more, more, more……. When I thought the series was cancelled for good, I went back and rewatched all the old episodes. This is my favorite show. Please come back next season.